What You Need To Know About… Wolf Creek

The world probably never knew it needed an Australian TV spin-off of decade-old horror film Wolf Creek. But it did, as Australian viewers already know. The miniseries has already aired there, where it instantly became a binge-watch sensation. It starts in the UK on Fox on 30 August, and in the States on Pop on 4 October, and it’s well worth a look. The show centres on Eve, a 19-year-old American tourist who is targeted by crazed serial killer called Mick Taylor. She survives his attack and embarks on a mission of revenge. But that’s just the bare bones of a show that we’re sure will get its hooks into you.

Wanna know more? Here’s the trailer and below that some trivia about the show to pique your interest:

Wolf Creek was one of the the first two original shows launched on Australian streaming service Stan, which looked to take on Netflix down under. It launched in May this year, with all six episodes available to binge watch, and attracted more than half a million viewers in its first week (which for Australia is very impressive).

Despite being set all over the country, the show was almost exclusively filmed in South Australia, where the two previous films had been made, largely around the Flinders Rangers region.

Many of those involved in the show, including director Tony Tilse, writers Peter Gawler and Felicity Packard, composer Burkhard von Dallwitz and co-star Dustin Clare, had worked on hit Australian crime drama Underbelly.

The theme tune is a beautiful, haunting folk rock version of the nursery rhyme “Who Killed Cock Robin”, arranged by Dan Luscombe – guitarist with rock band The Drones, who also composed the music for Aussie film Jindabyne and TV shows Laid and Mr & Mrs Murder. It’s sung by Melbourne folk pop singer Lisa Salvo.

Lucy Fry (Eve) genuinely hacked off her own long hair for one wince-inducing scene. “We filmed it in one take,” she told an interviewer. “It was fun.”

John Jarratt, who has played Mick Taylor since the original 2004 horror film, describes the character as “likeable”. “If he wasn’t a serial killer he’d be a good bloke,” he said when the show came out. “He’s funny as hell, but doing these awful things. He’s like Paul Hogan, only we’ve added psychopath to his traits.”

Greg McLean, who wrote and directed the original film, along with its 2013 sequel, returned to the franchise to direct the final episode – which expanded on the background for Mick he created in a prequel novel. His next project is the forthcoming US horror film The Belko Experience for Guardians of the Galaxy chief James Gunn.

Despite his Hollywood career, McLean says he’s keen to do more with Wolf Creek, with the universe already having expanded out. “I have a detailed plan for more movie adventures, and would love to see more in the TV world,” he said.